Sunderland were back in action as they took on Oxford United in the fourth round of the FA Cup
It is unlikely to be remembered as a classic but in the end Sunderland’s FA Cup progression was both hard fought and deserved.
Habib Diarra’s first-half penalty proved the difference between the two teams and if the visitors had struggled to get going, they ceded little and then stepped it up after the break. They battled a flurry of Oxford long throws and some fairly dire conditions to produce a professional second half, Robin Roefs largely a bystander as the Black Cats had the better of the chances and drew a number of saves from Matt Ingram.
It was a game that at one stage looked as if it might no go ahead at all, the pitch suffering from the relentless rainfall in Oxfordshire in recent weeks and with conditions worsening. An initial inspection from the referee saw the pitch deemed playable and thankfully, an easing of conditions in the final couple of hours before kick off allowed the contest to proceed albeit on a pitch that was never going to make for a free-flowing classic.
As he had pledged to do Le Bris named a strong XI for the game, six changes from midweek but a side still packed with senior experience. In truth, Sunderland struggled to get going and throughout the first half the hosts caused problems when they went direct. Spurs loanee Will Lankshear caused problems for Mukiele and O'Nien as he challenged for balls through the middle of the pitch, while winger Jinwoo Jeon was impressing on his full debut. Sunderland were enjoying moments of promise nevertheless, with Enzo Le Fee impressing with his footwork. Wilson Isidor had the first effort of note, firing into the side netting after gathering a pass from Talbi.
The two sides then traded chances and Lankshear drew a comfortable save from Roefs, with Mundle racing down the other end and dragging a shot just wide of the far post. Sunderland were still enjoying the better of the chances as they gradually moved through the gears, Diarra working space for a shot but his effort saved comfortably by the goalkeeper. Matt Ingram hadn't had much to do but Sunderland were just enjoying a little spell of pressure, and it led to a penalty when Makosso tripped Cirkin inside the box. It was a contentious award with the home players and support incensed, but Diarra was unnerved and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to find the bottom corner.
Oxford responded well to the setback, and should have levelled just before the break when Makosso headed a long throw from Vaulks just wide of the far post with Roefs rooted to the spot. The hosts were unfortunate to be behind at the break in truth, having competed well and with Sunderland struggling to make much of their time on the ball. They had defended solidly enough in the main, but hadn’t looked like getting on the scoresheet before or after the penalty.
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Sunderland had to come through some more pressure at the start of the second half as Vaulks continued to push them back with his use of the long throw, the Black Cats defending well from a succession of set plays. Initially they struggled to get up the pitch and cause problems of their own, but Ingram had to be alert to save from Mundle when Talbi found him in space in the box. Talbi then had an effort of his own from the edge of the box that Ingram pushed over the bar, Sunderland starting to get into the ascendancy on the hour mark.
The visitors continued to threaten in what was a really good period, Ingram making a handful of saves that he would expect to make but reflected the control of the game that Le Bris’s side now had. Sunderland continued to create decent openings just without finding that clinical finish, Oxford struggling to contain Mundle as they had all game. There was also an impressive cameo from debutant Jocelin Ta Bi, who made a number of dangerous runs and flashed one effort just wide of Ingram’s near post in stoppage time. It wasn’t a vintage Sunderland performance, but by the end you had to say they had done enough. An exciting season rolls on, Sunderland now just one game away from a cup quarter final.
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